Oliver Bearman has expressed that it was a “pleasure” to receive plaudits from multiple Formula 1 champions amid his starring drive in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Bearman was gearing up to continue his sophomore Formula 2 duties when Carlos Sainz’s appendicitis diagnosis saw him called up to make his F1 debut with Ferrari.
The Briton received one practice session in unrepresentative conditions but came within 0.036 seconds of pipping Lewis Hamilton to a place on the top-10 starting grid.
Following a clean start, Bearman made a series of assured overtaking moves and capitalised on a well-timed Safety Car to beat Hamilton and Lando Norris to seventh.
Asked how it felt to beat his established compatriots home, Bearman said: “Yes, it was a great race.
“Hamilton and Norris boxed and I saw a car behind me from the pits so I thought they were going to come pretty quickly, but eventually I don’t think the Soft was performing as they expected and eventually they stabilised, two and a half seconds behind me. With five laps to go I knew if I kept it clean then I could stay ahead.”
He conceded he would rewatch the action as it was “weird to not watch a Formula 1 race and it is probably the first Formula 1 race I haven’t watched for a long time.”
Bearman, who was three when Hamilton clinched his maiden F1 title in 2008, proclaimed that it was a “cool” feeling to race against drivers he watched growing up.
“I am quite young… that is cool. I grew up watching these guys fighting and it was nice,” Bearman, who revealed Sebastian Vettel sent him a good luck message, added.
“I didn’t fight them, but it was nice to share the track with them and it was a pleasure to have their recognition.”
Bearman also received praise from reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen, who commented that more couldn’t have been expected of the Ferrari prospect in Jeddah.
Elsewhere, full-time Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell claim it’s now a “matter of time” before Bearman is alongside them on the F1 grid.
Bearman conceded he was unsure what else he needed to do following his glowing audition, but details that his main focus is now on reclaiming lost ground in F2.
“After getting pole in Formula 2 I was a bit disappointed not to be able to finish the weekend, but when an opportunity like this comes, you can’t not take it,” he said.
“So I am really happy to have gone for it and I think I did a good showing for myself.
“Now, the focus goes back to Formula 2 and it’ll be a tough championship from now on because I am two rounds behind everyone.
“Bahrain was a different story, but here I could’ve scored some good points. I’ve got more points in Formula 1 than I do in Formula 2 at this point, so I’ve got some more work to do.”
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